Indeblue Restaurant & Bar Restaurant Review

: With the exception of high-end Tashan, most Indian restaurants in Philadelphia tread familiar ground, focusing on tandoori, vindaloo and other tried-and-true recipes and paying little mind to ambience. This second iteration of chef-owner Rakesh Ramola's popular Collingswood, New Jersey, establishment aims to recast the Indian restaurant in a modern, upscale light. The interior is a study in rich browns, with luxe touches of crystal lights, contemporary metal artwork and silken curtains. The menu from Ramola deftly mixes and matches traditional flavors with dishes that push the Indian envelope. You'll recognize the samosas, chicken tikka masala and vegetarian favorites like tandoori-roasted eggplant baingan bharta, but your taste buds will really be awakened by dishes such as the pork vindaloo, a richly satisfying entrée that is at once spicy, sweet and sour. Ramola similarly finds the right spicy-cool balance in his chaat offerings, notably a zesty version with spicy puffed puri offset by avocado and one with crispy spinach with crunchy fried goodness that belies its basically healthy ingredients. The cocktail list is similarly inventive, with familiar libations getting exotic upgrades, such as the rose grapefruit gimlet and chai sangría (red wine, orange liqueur, brandy and house-made chai orange juice). For dessert, the emphasis is on homey flavors: try fried banana with cinnamon ice cream and salted caramel sauce.